Effect of Dairy on Cognitive Performance in Children

Effect of Dairy on Cognitive Performance, Subjective Appetite and Glycemic Response in Children

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of dairy consumption on short-term cognitive performance, subjective mood and emotions, and glycemic response in healthy children aged 9 - 14 years. The investigators hypothesize that the consumption of dairy products as a mid-morning snack will improve mood and cognitive performance in children. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that all dairy products consumed as a mid-morning snack will imbue more benefits on mood and cognitive performance over 2-hours compared to fruit juice or snack skipping.

A randomized within-subject repeated measures experiment will be used to study the effects of dairy product consumption on cognitive performance, subjective mood and emotions, and blood glucose in healthy 9 - 14 year old children. Participants will consume, in a random order on separate mornings, one of the five treatments: (a) milk, (b) yogurt, (c) cheese, (d) fruit juice, or (e) snack skipping. Subjective mood/emotions and cognitive domains (learning and memory, spatial working memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function) will be assessed at baseline (0-min), and 15-, 30-, 60-, and 120-min following treatment consumption. Blood glucose measurements will be collected using the Freestyle Libre 2 continuous glucose monitoring system.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 9 to 14 years of age;
• Normal weight defined as between the 15th and 80th percentile for age and biological sex at birth according to the World Health Organization growth (WHO) charts.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with overweight/ obesity;
• Children with food sensitivities or allergies to dairy, gluten or any foods used in the study;
• Children with any diagnosed learning, emotional, or behavioural disabilities;
• Children taking any medications that may influence cognitive performance.